7
This review may contain spoilers
Romantic thriller about privileged teenagers - an intense work beyond appearances.
Review with images and spoiler marks: https://www.reddit.com/user/_sunoh/comments/1ljwqtb/hierarchy_review_an_intense_work_beyond/
This drama fascinated me, unlike all the criticism. Rather than being impressed by the drama’s budget, what truly struck me in the end was the talent and golden heart of the screenwriter, along with the skill of the director and actors.
(I originally wrote this review for a French Discord, but I decided to post it here)
Hierarchy is a drama that, behind an apparent classic structure — elite school, bullying, revenge — stands out precisely through its ability to go further, delivering a human, emotional, and above all, resolved story. And that is its strength.
The story doesn’t need a sequel because it is complete. Kang Ha gets the truth he seeks, and justice is served. No blind revenge, no spectacular payback, but a quest for meaning, understanding, and repair. The drama doesn't dwell on the brutality of a bullying as often seen elsewhere, it chooses a more subtle, mature, realistic tone. And that makes all the difference.
Kang Ha, as a central figure, disrupts the established order through his academic excellence, courage and emotional intelligence. The way he prevents the sharing of the video, or his heartbreaking line to Ri An — “Learn to live with your guilt because I will never accept your apology” — gives the whole story its meaning: a life lesson, not a revenge tale.
Every line of dialogue matters, every word carries weight, and it’s in these exchanges that Hierarchy finds its full scope. The final episode is especially striking: intense, accomplished, and deeply moving.
Jae I herself embodies the ambivalence that makes the characters so human. Both victim and witness, stoic yet wounded, she perfectly illustrates the emotional complexity the drama aims to convey. Her performance, subtle and restrained, makes her a memorable character, just like Kang Ha, whose portrayal literally carries the drama. Moreover, all the main characters—and many others—add depth and nuance to the story.
Far from being a simple “aesthetic” drama, Hierarchy knows exactly where it’s going. It doesn’t seek consensus perfection — it seeks resonance. And it succeeds, because every episode is dense, every emotion measured, every transformation believable. Even Ri An benefits from a complex and realistic character arc. And that’s precisely what makes this work memorable: nothing is black or white, and above all, everything is said.
The settings themselves play an equally interesting role. They depict a school of unreal beauty, which makes the contrast with the darkness of the drama all the more striking. It evokes certain dystopian films: a seemingly perfect world where the worst seeps into every crack. This visual dissonance is no accident — it reinforces the drama’s atmosphere and underlines its tensions. And clearly, I’ve rarely seen such beautiful color grading.
It's easy to criticize the drama for a lack of originality, but that's a misreading. Hierarchy doesn’t overplay elitism or corruption — it deconstructs them with finesse. And above all, it highlights a powerful message: the importance of change, awareness, and education — even in the most closed environments.
All in all, Hierarchy is a short but impactful drama. Not because of its spectacular aspect, but because of its sensitivity, accuracy, and its ability to evoke emotion without relying on gimmicks. The drama doesn't aim to shock — it aims to heal, to bring growth, and it does it well.
The post-credits scene (there is another at the end of Episode 5, though nothing important) teases a Season 2 despite the story being over, but I would gladly accept it in all honesty. At least for now, the cast got reunited in Crushology 101. (Lee Chae Min, Roh Jeong Eui and Kim Min Chul)
"No scholarship student here has ever gotten top marks. I will be the first. I will prove they are not superior. I will teach them the concept of fairness. To distinguish right from wrong. It has to be done. No one teaches them these basic concepts. Not a single adult."
"We all have someone to protect."
"I don't call this revenge. It's simply a matter of... being held accountable for our actions."
There are so many quotes, maybe I'll add more.
FMVs: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLVlEiYP-9el422JsLuJ8Gy_rmUqEzKdN0
You don't have to read this rant but I wanted to write it here anyway
--------------------------
And honestly, a rant because commenters and reviewers here are so insulting that I don't even care anymore: Interesting how people have such formulaic and violent views of revenge, thriller and murder mystery (as if the death reveal as well as the whole truth of the drama weren't more shockingly human, unfortunate and inevitable than most plot twists), proceeding to have unrealistic expectations on a drama's storyline and trash on everything. There is a thing called storytelling, and you can see here how the revenge motive is revealed last, at the very end of the first episode. The drama is called Hierarchy and that's what all of it is about. The romance isn't something unnecessary in the plot, at all. The world isn't black and white and this drama has every reason to exist and stand out. It had tons of incredible lines, parallels, contrasts between the characters and symbolism among a well-crafted plot and great scenes which made the drama fit perfectly into its short runtime. Instead of being a hater, I only noticed how cleverly thought-out the scenes were visually on top of the storytelling. What a way to ruin fiction, really. In my opinion, Hierarchy is a rare representation of what romanticism even is. It was something made against strict rules for the sake of art. And now here it is, technical talk everywhere and a bunch of nonsense. Even if they speedwatched (most unnatural thing to do but, whatever) or skipped through the drama and barely watched it, some things I read on tiktok and here are just... unbelievable to say the least. True sentiments nowhere to be seen, and awful insults everywhere. Just like everything somehow becomes problematic, how bland. I'm not defending Hierarchy merely because I found it incredible, but because I felt it deeply and cried a lot at the end. As of today, it's my most rewatched drama and honestly one of my all-time favorites.
And if I had to suggest something for MDL, it's to separate reviews into positive, mixed and negative categories. But I've already suggested it and I know it's pointless.
Also a lot of the hate is misogyny once again. Kdrama fans never fail to beat the allegations of being the worst fandom to ever exist. Anyway, if you appreciate layered characters and incredible cinematography, then watch Hierarchy. Sorry to haters that not everything can fit into the box they want to. I do not consider it inferior to critically praised dramas and movies in the slightest. Hierarchy is what happens when you meet a hateful audience instead of an open, thoughtful one.
Side note: I've read people say that because Kang Ha said he doesn't consider himself poor, that means he's secretely rich. It's not the drama's fault if people are stupid, sorry to say. That line was part of him showing a new world to Jae I. And about the post-credits scene too... gosh. I'll just write a comment about it.
I would like to mention another beautiful example of the storytelling, although there are so many, so I will do it in the comments too.
In the end, this work is intense, captivating, cathartic, and absolutely exceptional. You can’t really compare this drama to another, because Hierarchy’s universe is its own.
This drama fascinated me, unlike all the criticism. Rather than being impressed by the drama’s budget, what truly struck me in the end was the talent and golden heart of the screenwriter, along with the skill of the director and actors.
(I originally wrote this review for a French Discord, but I decided to post it here)
Hierarchy is a drama that, behind an apparent classic structure — elite school, bullying, revenge — stands out precisely through its ability to go further, delivering a human, emotional, and above all, resolved story. And that is its strength.
The story doesn’t need a sequel because it is complete. Kang Ha gets the truth he seeks, and justice is served. No blind revenge, no spectacular payback, but a quest for meaning, understanding, and repair. The drama doesn't dwell on the brutality of a bullying as often seen elsewhere, it chooses a more subtle, mature, realistic tone. And that makes all the difference.
Kang Ha, as a central figure, disrupts the established order through his academic excellence, courage and emotional intelligence. The way he prevents the sharing of the video, or his heartbreaking line to Ri An — “Learn to live with your guilt because I will never accept your apology” — gives the whole story its meaning: a life lesson, not a revenge tale.
Every line of dialogue matters, every word carries weight, and it’s in these exchanges that Hierarchy finds its full scope. The final episode is especially striking: intense, accomplished, and deeply moving.
Jae I herself embodies the ambivalence that makes the characters so human. Both victim and witness, stoic yet wounded, she perfectly illustrates the emotional complexity the drama aims to convey. Her performance, subtle and restrained, makes her a memorable character, just like Kang Ha, whose portrayal literally carries the drama. Moreover, all the main characters—and many others—add depth and nuance to the story.
Far from being a simple “aesthetic” drama, Hierarchy knows exactly where it’s going. It doesn’t seek consensus perfection — it seeks resonance. And it succeeds, because every episode is dense, every emotion measured, every transformation believable. Even Ri An benefits from a complex and realistic character arc. And that’s precisely what makes this work memorable: nothing is black or white, and above all, everything is said.
The settings themselves play an equally interesting role. They depict a school of unreal beauty, which makes the contrast with the darkness of the drama all the more striking. It evokes certain dystopian films: a seemingly perfect world where the worst seeps into every crack. This visual dissonance is no accident — it reinforces the drama’s atmosphere and underlines its tensions. And clearly, I’ve rarely seen such beautiful color grading.
It's easy to criticize the drama for a lack of originality, but that's a misreading. Hierarchy doesn’t overplay elitism or corruption — it deconstructs them with finesse. And above all, it highlights a powerful message: the importance of change, awareness, and education — even in the most closed environments.
All in all, Hierarchy is a short but impactful drama. Not because of its spectacular aspect, but because of its sensitivity, accuracy, and its ability to evoke emotion without relying on gimmicks. The drama doesn't aim to shock — it aims to heal, to bring growth, and it does it well.
The post-credits scene (there is another at the end of Episode 5, though nothing important) teases a Season 2 despite the story being over, but I would gladly accept it in all honesty. At least for now, the cast got reunited in Crushology 101. (Lee Chae Min, Roh Jeong Eui and Kim Min Chul)
"No scholarship student here has ever gotten top marks. I will be the first. I will prove they are not superior. I will teach them the concept of fairness. To distinguish right from wrong. It has to be done. No one teaches them these basic concepts. Not a single adult."
"We all have someone to protect."
"I don't call this revenge. It's simply a matter of... being held accountable for our actions."
There are so many quotes, maybe I'll add more.
FMVs: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLVlEiYP-9el422JsLuJ8Gy_rmUqEzKdN0
You don't have to read this rant but I wanted to write it here anyway
--------------------------
And honestly, a rant because commenters and reviewers here are so insulting that I don't even care anymore: Interesting how people have such formulaic and violent views of revenge, thriller and murder mystery (as if the death reveal as well as the whole truth of the drama weren't more shockingly human, unfortunate and inevitable than most plot twists), proceeding to have unrealistic expectations on a drama's storyline and trash on everything. There is a thing called storytelling, and you can see here how the revenge motive is revealed last, at the very end of the first episode. The drama is called Hierarchy and that's what all of it is about. The romance isn't something unnecessary in the plot, at all. The world isn't black and white and this drama has every reason to exist and stand out. It had tons of incredible lines, parallels, contrasts between the characters and symbolism among a well-crafted plot and great scenes which made the drama fit perfectly into its short runtime. Instead of being a hater, I only noticed how cleverly thought-out the scenes were visually on top of the storytelling. What a way to ruin fiction, really. In my opinion, Hierarchy is a rare representation of what romanticism even is. It was something made against strict rules for the sake of art. And now here it is, technical talk everywhere and a bunch of nonsense. Even if they speedwatched (most unnatural thing to do but, whatever) or skipped through the drama and barely watched it, some things I read on tiktok and here are just... unbelievable to say the least. True sentiments nowhere to be seen, and awful insults everywhere. Just like everything somehow becomes problematic, how bland. I'm not defending Hierarchy merely because I found it incredible, but because I felt it deeply and cried a lot at the end. As of today, it's my most rewatched drama and honestly one of my all-time favorites.
And if I had to suggest something for MDL, it's to separate reviews into positive, mixed and negative categories. But I've already suggested it and I know it's pointless.
Also a lot of the hate is misogyny once again. Kdrama fans never fail to beat the allegations of being the worst fandom to ever exist. Anyway, if you appreciate layered characters and incredible cinematography, then watch Hierarchy. Sorry to haters that not everything can fit into the box they want to. I do not consider it inferior to critically praised dramas and movies in the slightest. Hierarchy is what happens when you meet a hateful audience instead of an open, thoughtful one.
Side note: I've read people say that because Kang Ha said he doesn't consider himself poor, that means he's secretely rich. It's not the drama's fault if people are stupid, sorry to say. That line was part of him showing a new world to Jae I. And about the post-credits scene too... gosh. I'll just write a comment about it.
I would like to mention another beautiful example of the storytelling, although there are so many, so I will do it in the comments too.
In the end, this work is intense, captivating, cathartic, and absolutely exceptional. You can’t really compare this drama to another, because Hierarchy’s universe is its own.
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